SPORTS

NOT YET: Beermen force title rubbermatch

Mark Escarlote

Not today.

San Miguel Beer refused to surrender and let TNT walk away with the crown as the Beermen blew out the Tropang Giga, 114-96, in Game 6 to force a winner-take-all in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

SMB prevented the balloons and confetti to fall on the Big Dome's floor Friday night, tying the best-of-seven series at 3-3 behind the Beermen's hot outside sniping led by sweet-shooting guards Marcio Lassiter and Simon Enciso.

Lassiter  went  6-for-7 from the three-point area to finish with 22 points, Enciso nailed six treys for 20 points while CJ Perez also posted 20 markers for SMB, which pummeled TNT with 16 triples.

Game 7 is on Sunday.

Mo Tautuaa scored 15 points, Jericho Cruz had 11 while June Mar Fajardo chipped in 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Beermen, who spoiled RR Pogoy's 31-point explosion for TNT.

The Tropang Giga, who played sans injured veteran guard Jayson Castro and Glenn Khobuntin, never got their game going as SMB pounced early.

Vic Manuel's layup gave the Beermen a 56-30 lead with 7:05 left in the second quarter.

The Tropang Giga tried to mount rally in the third period, pulling close by nine points, 62-71, with 5:59 left off a completed three-point play by Pogoy.

SMB started off hot with Perez sparking an early spurt to create a separation despite big man June Mar Fajardo getting two early fouls that kept him on the bench for minutes.

The Beermen rained down treys in the first half, hitting 11-of-18 from the three-point area with Enciso nailing five of his six attempts from the outside.

Frederick Tungcab got 12 points while Troy Rosario finished with 10 points for TNT.